John Richardson

Joining the discussion are John Richardson from ICIS, who examines the effects of declining oil prices on chemicals, Paul Hodges of New Normal Consulting, offering insights into the fundamentals driving this downturn, and Tom Brown, ICIS Insight Editor, explaining OPEC's production increase. They highlight how low oil prices could boost petrochemical demand and discuss the implications of China's transition to electric vehicles and the ongoing trade war, which may dampen overall chemical market growth.

Luckman Suratman, a journalist with ICIS Newsdesk in Singapore, and John Richardson from ICIS's market development team offer keen insights into the Asian petrochemical sector. They discuss the expected rebalancing of oversupply conditions by 2028-2030 and the notable growth in India amidst regional challenges. The impact of the US-China trade war on global trade dynamics comes to light, alongside the industry's pivot towards sustainability and a growing reliance on US ethane for chemical production.

Nigel Davis from ICIS shares insights on chemical industry trends, while John Richardson analyzes global capacity and trade dynamics. Paul Hodges discusses how geopolitical factors will impact the market. They explore the troubling rise of global overcapacity and depressed demand. The conversation highlights the potential effects of Donald Trump's tariffs on trade and inflation. Plus, they delve into China's struggling economy and the challenges of misinformation. Amidst the chaos, they pinpoint growth opportunities linked to the low carbon agenda.

John Richardson, a member of ICIS's market development team, and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting, dive into the upcoming boom in Saudi Aramco's liquids-to-chemicals projects. They highlight how this initiative aims to transform massive amounts of crude oil into chemicals by 2030. With escalating capacities, they discuss the looming global oversupply, and how the demand for petrochemicals might not keep pace. The duo explores the implications for market balance and the necessity for closures to stabilize the industry.

Join John Richardson and Nigel Davis from the ICIS market development team, along with Paul Hodges, Chairman of New Normal Consulting, as they dive into ADNOC's strategic acquisition of Covestro for €11.7 billion. They discuss the challenges facing Europe’s petrochemical sector, including poor demand in key markets and the surge in mergers and acquisitions. The talk highlights the industry’s shift toward sustainability and the implications of fluctuating oil prices on demand. It's a captivating look at the evolving landscape of chemical markets.